Click here to read the Family Alliance Ontario news release.

Click here to read about the benefits of filing taxes.

Free tax clinics (some criteria apply):

-  Tax Clinic 2021 | Social Development Centre Waterloo Region

-  RoW-Volunteer-Income-Tax-Clinic-Information.PDF (regionofwaterloo.ca) 

Dear stakeholder,

Our annual public meeting is fast approaching, and you are invited! We consider you an important partner and value your thoughts and expertise on accessibility. Your voice can help making Canada accessible. We want you to be a part of the discussion.

About the event: Making Canada accessible

This is our first annual public meeting, and we have a lot to share. The event is free and will happen virtually on May 31, 2021 at 1:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

It will be an opportunity to:

·         meet our Board of Directors and CEO;

·         learn about our role, our achievements, and our future plans;

·         hear from accessibility experts; and

·         share thoughts and ask questions on accessibility areas related to our mandate.

For more information, visit our event page.

Register today

Registration is required for this event. Space is limited. Register here – you have until May 14 to do so.

If you need help registering or have questions, please contact us by email or by calling
1-833-854-7628.

How to join

Closer to the event, we will send participation details to those who are registered. Use this information on the day of the event to join us online. There will also be the option to call-in and listen to the event.

Our goal is to make Canada accessible for all, and this is not possible without you. Please share this invitation with anyone in your network that would like to attend.

Our board of directors is excited to see you – watch their video invitation here. See you there!

Accessibility Standards Canada

Employment: Put your Template in the Trash!
This blog will tie in well to the Indeed Super User Webinar that we're facilitating tomorrow to give more tips on resumes! Hopefully the ideas will help rejuvenate the job search efforts that someone is using to see more positive responses!

Mental Health: In case you missed the tips that were released from one of our staff via the Waterloo Region Record, here's a link to the article to help youth who are struggling with the loss of structure and daily routines. 

Intended for caregivers and/or students (age15-21). We will discuss the school transition plan, making the transition from school to adult life, how and when to connect to adult developmental services, Passport funding (community participation funding allocated to eligible individuals), Ontario Disability Support Program and Service Coordination.

Click here to view the presentation.

We would love to hear from you! After you view the presentation, please complete this brief survey to help us serve you better in the future.

Please email Shiona at s.niven@sunbeamcommunity.ca for any additional information.

We would like to bring your attention to the following very critical/important information re: Triage Protocol. Please review the information before making a decision. Thank you to the family groups that put this package together.

Additionally, please read the related press release from FAO.
____________________________________________________

Dear Families, Self-Advocates, and Supporters,
 
For the past year, disability advocates have been raising the alarm over the provincial governments proposed critical care triage protocol.  As we are experiencing the third wave of the pandemic, seeing increased numbers of patients in Intensive Care Units, and are faced with the real threat of our health care system collapsing, we have collected information from trusted resources for your awareness and information on this important issue.  Please see the links below.

Please visit our website Critical Care Triage Protocol - Thunder Bay Family Network to download a template letter that was developed for the purposes of advocating to the Ontario government.  You will see that there are highlighted sections for you to personalize the letter and we encourage you to add your comments.  This letter is addressed to Premier Ford and Health Minister Elliot and should you choose to send it, please cc your local MPP.

Link to MPP contact list: Current MPPs | Legislative Assembly of Ontario 
Doug Ford, Premier: doug.fordco@pc.ola.org
Christine Elliott, Minister of Health: christine.elliott@pc.ola.org

The AODA Alliance is seeking support from self-advocates, families, and anyone who supports those with a disability to put pressure on the government so that discriminatory practices do not occur towards our loved ones should a protocol such as this have to be utilized due to the health care system being overwhelmed.  Other advocacy ideas can include social media sharing of tweets and posts, contacting your local media, engaging with faith-based groups in your community, or connecting with a local family network.

You can follow AODA on Twitter at @aodaalliance and we encourage you to sign up for their newsletter to receive updated information on this and many other areas of concern:  Sign up for the AODA Alliance Newsletter.

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance:
Ontario Human Rights Commission Again Commendably Raises Human Rights Concerns with Ontario’s Critical Care Triage Plans, While the Ontario College of Physicians And surgeons Appears to Wrongly — Green Light Those Plans The AODA Alliance Responds!

Ontario Human Rights Commission: New letter to Minister of Health on critical care triage protocol | Ontario Human Rights Commission

Thunder Bay Family Network Town Hall video: https://youtu.be/VvcOJpdIphU

Click here to view and use the template letter.

Tips for Parents of Students with Disabilities on How to Advocate For Your Child’s Needs at School - YouTube

Osgoode Hall Law School Visiting Professor David Lepofsky gives practical tips to parents of students with disabilities in Ontario or other Canadian provinces on how to advocate for your child’s needs at school.

More information available at www.aodaalliance.org/education and @aodaalliance Check out great legal information from the ARCH Disability Law Centre available here. 

Housing Navigators would like your feedback and invite you to complete this survey about DSO Housing Navigation and the Housing Toolkit.

Survey: http://bit.ly/HN​SurveyEN

Employment: But I've been out of work for too long for anyone to hire me
Many people have experienced an elongated length of unemployment due to various changes and impacts of COVID19. Hopefully the tips in this article will help provide some strategies and hope that a next career move doesn't have to feel like an unachievable goal!

Mental Health: Ways to Help Children with Climate Change Anxiety
Climate change anxiety in young clients has increased over the years. Fear is an adaptive emotion; it is there to help keep us safe in the face of danger. But when the danger feels large and unchangeable, it can lead to feeling overwhelmed and paralyzed. Read more to learn some strategies to help those you know with children through what they're facing!